True Religion

James 1:17-27

Context
Our epistle lesson for the next five weeks comes from James, a letter written traditionally by James the brother of Jesus, leader of the church in Jerusalem, to "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion" - either literally to the Jewish Christians spread throughout the empire, or metaphorically to the dispersed Church, the new Israel. James is a relatively didactic letter and the ancient context is perhaps less important than it is for many Biblical texts. It's worth taking the time to read the first 16 verses of the chapter, however.

Listening to the writer
James doesn't leave much to the imagination:
God gives good gifts.
Don't be angry at the trials and temptations of the world; instead, accept God's good gift of the word.
Just do it.

Listening to God
Spend some time in silence focusing on one or more of the following questions:
What good gifts has God given you lately?
When was the last time you got angry? What good came from your anger? What harm came from it?
When was the last time you heard a word from God and obeyed it? Disobeyed it?
Do you need to focus more on "caring for widows and orphans in their distress," or on being "unstained by the world?"

Miscellaneous Meanderings
More than most books, I hear people saying either "I love James" or "I can't stand James." I think this is because James shows his colors more than many of the Biblical authors - he is a conservative, through and through. James sees what is right with the world and wants to preserve it. Doubt and anger are to be avoided; trials are to be celebrated, and even temptations - though coming from our own wicked hearts, not from God - can lead to good if we endure them.
So, if you love James - be careful. He's not the only voice in Scripture, and there are times when doubt provides opportunity for learning (John 14) and when anger bears much fruit (John 2:17). And make sure you listen to his words on riches... which reflect conservative Christian thought, but not conservative American thought!
And, if you hate James - be careful. The world is God's creation, and there is much that is right with the world and needs to be preserved. More often than not, we do get what we pay for. Personal disaster is not always the result of personal sin - but it can be, and often is.

As is true with much of life, if you want to grow while reading James, listen to the parts that you don't like, look in the mirror, and let God help you in your spiritual grooming.

For a great reinterpretation on the mirror, click here.


Dig Deeper at Textweek.